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The teacher whose story inspired a movie starring an Academy Award winner will speak at Stockton University next week.
Erin Gruwell was a first-year teacher Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif. in 1994, when she decided to use literature and media to teach a diverse group of students labeled "unteachable."
All 150 students graduated four years later, and their stories were compiled into a New York Times best-seller, "The Freedom Writers Diary."
That later became a movie starring Hilary Swank as Gruwell.
The Freedom Writers Foundation was created to help educators reproduce Gruwell's success.
“The work and passion of our faculty, in part, contributed toward Erin’s interest in visiting Stockton University,” said Valerie Hayes, chief officer for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “The School of Education continues its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by addressing the growing teacher shortage, specifically teachers of color.”
Gruwell will speak at 4 p.m. next Wednesday in the Alton Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Professors Stacey Culleny and Meg White created the 2023 Future Teachers of Color Conference in direct response to several needs within the field of education. They hosted more than 200 ninth and 10th grade students from the region at the conference last May.
Before the public event, Gruwell and Rob Falk, director of digital media at the Freedom Writers Foundation, will tour the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center.
Gruwell also will deliver a workshop at the Multicultural Center for students, with a focus on Education majors.
The event is co-sponsored by the School of Education, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Division of Student Affairs, the Stockton University Foundation, the Multicultural Center and the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center.
An autobiography is more than just a life story—it’s a powerful tool for self-expression and understanding. In connection with the upcoming visit from the Freedom Writers teacher to Stockton University, the idea of sharing one's personal story resonates deeply. The Freedom Writers were encouraged to write about their own lives, reflecting on their challenges and triumphs through their personal experiences. Understanding what is an autobiography highlights how storytelling can bring about healing and foster a deeper sense of community, much like the impact the Freedom Writers had by telling their own stories.
